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Knowledgebase is 10! - Long live the Lasa ICT knowledgebase

By Lasa Information Systems Team

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lasa knowledgebase we take a look back in time…

So what is this knowledgebase anyway?

Knowledgebase was originally set up by Lasa in 2001 to provide impartial information on Information Technology to third sector organisations, in plain language, so that they could benefit from using technology to help them achieve their goals.

 “…All in all the knowledgebase is an amazing resource. There's an enormous amount of information, sensibly organised and lots of information about using technology strategically. It's been an invaluable resource for me personally and for Fossbox more generally…”
Paula Graham, Director, Fossbox

“…It's a great source for good practice and introductory information about technology pitched at a user friendly level for our clients. The fact that most of the content is published under a Creative Commons  license so we can easily republish elsewhere is also really helpful to us as it means we can get good information  out via our own channels as well…”
Jae Campbell, Community Resource Manager, The Ground Floor Project & DOT-COMmunications

For more on, how folk are using the knowledgebase, see the article “What the knowledgebase means to me!”

A short history…

Lasa has been providing technology advice to third sector organisations since 1984. Knowledgebase was officially launched in January 2001 when websites and the internet became a more viable proposition for third sector organisations including ourselves.

Technology back then (and arguably now) was complicated and it was hard to get help from anyone who didn’t speak geek at you. Over the years, knowledgebase has proved invaluable to many third sector organisations and others working with them.

Many of the issues that were around for organisations back at the start of the new millennium are still around now – the technology may have changed but the issues are often still the same… As new technologies emerge, many organisations need help to understand how they can use them appropriately to help achieve their missions.

Knowledgebase has come a long way since 2001. As well as writing content ourselves, we’ve built quality relationships with quality content providers including individuals and organisations working with non profits in the UK and abroad.

Project funding from Capacity Builders in between 2005 and 2008 helped transform the knowledgebase in terms of the range and amount of content, the look and feel, and more interactive features.

That was then…

 

 

View larger image of early knowledgebase

 

This is now…

"I've been using the knowledgebase for many years and have no hesitation in recommending to everyone I work with across an enormous range of issues."
Mark Walker, South East ICT Champion

Technology over the years…

When the knowledgebase was first launched in 2001 websites were a fairly new development for third sector organisations. Now if your organisation doesn’t have some kind of online presence you could potentially miss out on many opportunities because funders and donors will often expect to find information on the internet about your work and impact.

In 2001 websites tended to feature static pages in which organisations talked at their supporters. Ten years later social networking and other “Web 2.0” applications like Twitter, Facebook, blogs now allow you to go to where your supporters are and connect interactively with them.

Ten years ago many organisations were getting their first desktop computers, gradually most of them connected thief machines in peer to peer networks to share resources. Then came client server networks which provided centralised document storage, easier backing up, and more sophisticated security. Now we have the potential that cloud computing offers in terms of “any time anywhere” access to day to day office productivity applications, document sharing and the like. You don’t necessarily need a powerful computer – just access to the internet.

Despite the promise that new technology and especially the internet offers, many organisations remain “excluded” and will continue to need help to effectively and strategically manage what technology they have. After all, they want to get on with delivering their mission and don’t necessarily want to have to think about technology.

Sites like the knowledgebase are important to maintain because they not only contain lots of great content that can help third sector organisations make informed decisions, but also signpost to further sources of help.

"…It's great how the knowledgebase is kept up to date with broad changes in technology, amended and updated on an ongoing basis. The site is easy to search, especially if you're not quite sure what you're looking for…"
Josh Hoole, Communities 2.0 Project Manager

A sample of knowledgebase articles over the last 10 years:

Knowledgebase now has 10 main categories, here’s a sample of articles from these main areas:

2001 Hardware - Celeron or Pentium III – Which to Buy?

2002 Databases - A quick guide to planning your database

2003 Using Your Computer - Computer Health and Safety

2004 Networks - Network Troubleshooting – Introduction

2005 Managing ICT - Calculating your Technology Budget

2006 Security - Developing a backup strategy

2007 Accessibility & Inclusion - Accessibility on Linux Desktops

2008 Internet, Email and Telephones - A Business Case for Telephony

2009 Your Online Presence - Women's Resource Centre's Journey Into Social Media

2010 Software - What your organisation should know about Office 2010

Top 10 articles on the knowledgebase over the years…

… Not quite since records began but the best data we can get…

1. Computer Health and Safety
2. Alternatives to Outlook Express - Finding the Right Email Client
3. Using Microsoft SharePoint Services to Create and Intranet
4. Remote Control - Accessing a Computer or Office Network from Another Location
5. Training Needs Analysis
6. Project Management - What is Project Management
7. What to Expect from an IT Support Contract
8. Project Management – Project Initiation Document
9. ICT Risk Assessment
10.  Make Your Website Accessible to Visually Impaired People 

"Lasa's ICT knowledgebase is at the top of the list of places I point third sector organisations towards for technology help as I know whatever the question, there will always be a sector relevant and well written article there to answer the question. When delivering technology workshops around the country, the ICT Champions direct people to use the Knowledgebase to help make better decisions about using technology or for in depth background reading.  Knowledgebase provides the perfect grounding for the many ICT guides and briefings the ICT Champions have produced over the last 3 years, ensuring our legacy will be available to the sector.  

But don't just take my word for it, here's a quote from a CVS 'You think, I wonder if anyone else has been using SMS for contacting their clients, you can go and have a look at the ICT Knowledgebase as it's a good place to see if somebody else has written about it and to see if there's anything in any of the documents" (Member of local CVS).' 

So here's to the next 10 years of Knowledgebase!"
Paul Webster, NAVCA

Thanks

For much of the it has been around, the knowledgebase has been unfunded. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the knowledgebase, or allowed us to use their content on the site, everyone who has used the resources over the years, and to the team here at Lasa who’ve kept it going despite the lack of funding. We are excited about the next 10 years of work and beyond,  providing quality content to help third sector organisations. With your help and support we can make this happen:

• Spread the word to organisations that might benefit from the content on the knowledgebase
• Write for us
• Sponsor an article and / or advertise with us
• Donate to Lasa 

"The knowledgebase and Suppliers Directory can be summed up in two words; invaluable and essential. In so many cases, [organisation's ICT] requirements are served by the font of information that is the Knowledgebase and this was evident when a Faith project I helped put in place quite recently brought these tools to the attention of attendees from numerous faith groups and communities in the North East Region including Hindu, Sikh, Muslim Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Quaker, Jain and other less well known faith groups."
Andrew Samuel, North East ICT Champion.